Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grand Cayman KY1-1206;
&
877/REDSAIL
[733-7245] in the
U.S., or 345/945-5965; www .redsailcayman.com) and its largest,
best-accessorized branch at the G rand Cayman B each S uites, West
Bay R oad (
&
345/949-8745
). O ther locations ar e at the Westin
Casuarina (
&
345/949-8732
); at Rum Point (
&
345/947-9203
); at
the Marriott Beach Resort (
&
345/949-6343
); at the Cour tyard by
Marriott (
&
345/946-5481
); and at Morritt's Tortuga Club (
&
345/
947-2097
).
Red Sail has the most compr ehensive watersports program on the
island, including all equipment rentals for everything from a banana-
boat tube ride to kayaking and water-skiing. Cer tified div ers can
choose from a variety of boat dives each day. A two-tank morning or
afternoon dive goes for US$120, with a one-tank afternoon boat dive
costing US$75. S pecial dives include a one-tank S tingray City div e
for US$75 and a one-tank night div e for the same price. F ull PADI
open-water certification costs US$450 to US$550. All types of scuba
gear can be rented.
The company also offers boat trips, including parasailing ex cur-
sions. Catamaran sails ar e provided, the most popular being a 4
1
/
2
-
hour jaunt to Stingray City, with lunch and snorkeling included, that
goes for US$88 for adults or half-price for childr en 12 and under .
Two-hour sunset sails along the N orth Sound cost US$40 for adults
or half-price for children 12 and under, and you can also book a din-
ner catamaran cr uise for US$75 for adults or half-price for childr en
12 and under. Catamaran snor keling trips cost US$55 or half-price
for children.
Divetech,
Cobalt Coast Resort & Suites, 18 Sea Fan Dr., Boatswains
Bay (
&
888/946-5656
or 345/946-5658; www.divetech.com), is one
of the best organiz ed and most attentiv e outfitters, with a fine r eputa-
tion and a location near deep marine walls and dr op-offs that div ers
find superb, if not the best shor e diving on the islands. The operation
is headquartered in a clapboar d-covered cottage on the gr ounds of the
recommended Cobalt Coast Resort and Suites (p. 67), on Grand Cay-
man's most northwestern tip, far from the sparkle of Seven Mile Beach.
The coastline is tr eacherously jagged, covered with br uising rocks that
can puncture the side of any water craft that ventures too close. Conse-
quently, Divetech boats moor at a massiv e 36m (118-ft.) concrete pier
that juts seawar d. From here, within a r elatively short distance, div ers
have access to a cornucopia of dive options that are difficult to duplicate
anywhere else.
Many, but not all, of D ivetech's clients opt to stay at its w ell-rec-
ommended associated hotel, Cobalt Coast R esort and S uites. Those
who don't stay at Cobalt Coast must either driv
109
5
e or make special
